Open Water Wisdom is a community water activity safety program spearheaded by The Royal Life Saving Society of Canada (Lifesaving Canada) and The Canadian Red Cross. The initiative is dedicated to raising awareness about recreational water safety issues across Canada, with a particular focus on hundreds of remote, northern, rural, Aboriginal, and coastal communities.
History
The program was launched in 2011 with funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada. It was created in response to data showing that children and youth in remote Canadian communities face higher risks of water injury and drowning, partly due to proximity to cold open water and cultural factors that can contribute to elevated drowning rates. In 2012, the campaign released several national radio Public Service Announcements about staying safe around open water during summer months.
Activities
The campaign has targeted over 250 communities across Canada, with a special emphasis on youth aged 19 and under. Key activities include:
- Providing local community champions with lifejackets and resource training kits focused on cold water safety.
- Training local champions to deliver water activity safety education using supplied materials.
- Distributing resources to sustain ongoing access to educational materials and lifejackets.
Official Objectives
- Reduce water-related incidents and drowning rates, and increase lifejacket usage among children and youth.
- Increase public awareness of risks and actions needed to prevent drowning-related injury and death.
- Influence children, youth, families, and communities to adopt safer behaviors in, on, and around water during recreation, sport, and play.
- Engage communities and build local capacity to sustain water safety education.
- Provide resources for children, youth, families, communities, and professionals to prevent injury and drowning.
